Uptake and loss of inorganic mercury in the eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica).

Eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) were found to accumulate significant levels of mercury on exposure to relatively low concentrations of mercuric chloride. Accumulation occurred in two distinct phases which may be described as a two compartment system in which accumulation is logarithmic in the first phase and linear in the second. Mercury, during the initial phase, showed a minimum outward concentration flux of 0.025 hr-1 indicating reversibility of accumulation prior to the change in phase. However, mercury was not excreted at the end of the second phase following exposure to 10, 40, 80, and 100 mug/1 for 256 hr.